Method and apparatus for deflecting a bore hole



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 19, 1938. D. RAGLAND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLECTING A BORE HOLE Filed June 22, 1936 A ril 19, 1938. D. RAGLAND 2,114,476

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLECTING A BORE HOLE Filed June 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DIETHOD APPARATUS FOR DEFLECT- ING A BORE HOLE Douglas Ragland, Houston, Tex., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Inlaware Application June 22, 1938, Serial No. 86,506

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in eifecting the deflection of a bore hole, such as a drilling well.

The invention will be fully understood from the 5 following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which latter Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view through the earth, showing a bore hole with the apparatus for deflecting the bore hole disposed therein.

Fig- 2 is a detailed view of that portion of the hole containing deflection apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view, showing the deflected hole formed by deflection apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the end of the drill stem showing a conventional bit and reamer.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates the surface of the earth and 2 desi nates the bore hole, the course of which is to be deflected. The hole is drilled with the use of 20 rotary tools, including rotary 3 and a drill stem 4 through a Kelly or drive joint 5, a travelling block 6, a crown block I, and a drawworks 2|. The hole 2 has been substantially extended by drilling to the designation 9.

It is frequently necessary, or desirable, to deflect the course of the bore hole in a predetermined or an undetermined direction. Also, it may be desirable to cause the drift or slope of the bore hole, drilling well, or rotary hole to be changed, increased, decreased, or remain fixed, whether the result is or is not predetermined, in whole or in part. The apparatus for accomplishing these results comprises a section of drill stem l formed of flexible material, a portion of which is curved at H to a suflicient degree such that the bore end l3 of the section is disposed on one side of the bore hole, while that'portion ll of the section above the curved portion II- is on the opposite side of the bore hole, as clearly illus- 40 trated in the figures. The drill stem may be made of the usual flexible material of which drill stems are constructed, orit may be tempered, if desired.

In the embodiment illustrated, the curved portion. H of that section of drill stem is supplied with a reamer l5 and the lower end of the section is provided with a bit ll.

In utilizing the device, the hole is drilled by usual procedure to a given depth, at which point it is to be deflected. Alternatively, a drilled hole can be plugged back. The drill tools are then removed from the hole and the curved section of drill stem III is aflixed to the bottom of the string of drill pipe 4. The string of drill pipe with the curved section It is inserted into the bore hole until the bit I! is near the bottom 9 of the bore hole, or the top of the plug. In this position the bore end l3 of the drill stem III is on one side of the hole, while that portion ll of the stem Ill above the curve is on the opposite side of the hole. The drill stem is then oriented by turning the string of drill pipe until the bit I1 is on a predetermined side of the hole. It is understood that the drill pipe is oriented 9.511; is lowered into the hole so that the position of the planeor planes containing the stem I0 is always known. The drill pipe 4 is now lowered by means of drawworks 2| until the bit I! is in engagement with the bottom 9 of the bore hole, or the top of the plug, and sumcient weight of drill pipe, or pressure, is applied to the section It to force the bit ll against the bottom of the hole and cause the curved portion l l to take the position shown in dotted lines, designated 20, and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The drill stem is then rotated, continuing application of pressure to cause the curved portion II to remain in the dotted line position, and the plane or planes containing the stem ID to remain fixed, while deepening the hole. As a result, the bit I! is forced in a lateral direction as illustrated at 22, in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that the section of drill pipe l0 which efiects the change of direction of the bore hole may be made from a piece, section or bit of pipe, tube, or a hollow body of metal or alloy, kinked, bent or curved in one or more points and provided with bits,- points, rotary shoes, cutting edges or edge, placed at one or both ends of the section, or along the length of the section. Alternatively, the bits, points, rotary shoes, cutting edges or edge, may be left ofi entirely and some of the advantages of the invention will be retained.

While the invention has been described as applied to directing the course of a bore hole in a predetermined direction, it will be understood that it can be used todirect the hole in an undetermined direction, that it can be used 'to correct the direction of a hole to its initial direction and in causing the drift or slope of a bore hole, drilling well, or rotary hole, to increase, decrease, or remain fixed, whether 'the result is or is not predetermined in whole or in part, and some of the advantages of the invention will be retained.

While the invention has been described as an apparatus comprised of a section ofdrill stem l0 formed of flexible material, a portion ll of which is curved to a sufficient degree such that the bore end I3 of the section is disposed on oneside of the bore hole, while that portion ll of the section above the curved portion H is on the opposite side of the bore hole, it will be understood that the apparatus may be comprised of a section of drill stem formed of flexible material, a portion or all of which is curved, and some of the advantages of the invention will be retained.

Various-changes and alternate arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the art as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. The method of deflecting a bore hole, which comprises disposing in the hole a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which is curved longitudinally, whereby the lower end of the drill stem is on one side of thehole when that portion of the stem above the curved portion is on the opposite side of the hole, applying suflicient weight to the stem to force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stem continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes, while drilling the hole, whereby the course is deflected.

2. The method of deflecting a borehole by disposing in the hole a drill stem of lesser diameter than'the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which is curved, whereby the lower end of the drill stem is on one side of the hole when that portion of the stem above the curved portion is on the opposite side of the hole, orienting the stem in the hole whereby the lower end is on a given side of the hole, applying suflicient weight to the stem to force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stem continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes, while drilling the hole, whereby the course is to be deflected in a predetermined direction.

3. Apparatus for deflecting a bore hole which comprises a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which is curved, whereby the lower end of the drill stem is on one side of the bore hole when the portion of the stem above the curved portion is on the opposite side of the hole. 4. Apparatus for deflecting a bore hole, which comprises a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material a portion of which is curved, whereby the lower end of the drill stem is on one side of the bore hole when the portion of the stem above the curved portion is on the opposite side of the hole, and cutting members carried by the curved portion.

5. Apparatus for deflecting a bore hole, ,which comprises a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which is curved, whereby the lower end of the drill stem is on one side of the bore hole when the portion of the stem above the curved portion is on the opposite side of the hole, and cutting members carried by the drill stem within the. length of the curved portion.

6. Apparatus for deflecting a bore hole, which comprises a drill stem of lesser diameter than the,

comprises disposing in the hole a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which is curved, applying suflicient weight to the stem to force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stem continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes while drilling the hole, whereby the course is deflected.

8. The method of deflecting a bore hole, which comprises disposing in the hole a drill stem of lesser diameter than the hole and of flexible material, a portion of which iscurved, applying sufficient weight to the stemto force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stern continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes, while drilling the hole, whereby the course is deflected in a predetermined direction.

9. The method of deflecting a bore hole, which comprises disposing in the hole a curved drill stem of flexible material and of lesser diameter than the hole, applying sufiicient weight to the stem to force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stem continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes while drilling the hole, whereby the course is deflected.

10. The method of deflecting a bore hole, which comprises disposing in the hole a curved drill stem of flexible material and of lesser diameter than the hole, applying suificient weight to the stem to force the lower end against the bottom of the hole and to flex the material of part of the curved portion so that it bears against the side of the hole, rotating the stem continuously, and continuing the application of weight to retain the curved portion in its flexed position and to retain the stem in a fixed plane or planes, while drilling the hole, whereby the course is to be deflected in a predetermined direction.

DOUGLAS RAG-LAND. 

